caulk

Building Owners’ Guide to the Basics of Commercial Caulking

When you’re a commercial building owner, you have to stay on top of many things, including your facility’s maintenance and repairs. It’s essential to keep everything up to date to avoid potential accidents and injuries. Caulk repairs should also be on your list of services to hire because they play a big role in maintaining your building.

If you’re unfamiliar with what caulk is, you’re in luck. This article covers what you need to know about it, such as what it’s for and how to choose which type is the best choice for you.

What Is Commercial Caulking For?

Caulk is a waterproof filler and sealant that’s commonly used in builds and repairs. People often apply them to seal off areas where parts of a building join together, like along a door frame or around windows. They create a tight seal to keep pests and stray water or dust out of a building when you do the process correctly.

Caulking services can also improve a building’s atmosphere. It helps keep the air cool during the summer and ensures warm air won’t escape from the building during winter. When you fail to maintain your building’s caulking, the damage that builds up over time can lead to some costly consequences.

Which Type of Caulk Is the Best Option?

There are different types of caulk, but you cannot interchange two of them because each serves their own purpose. These types are silicone caulk and polyurethane caulk. Silicone is sturdier but more expensive than polyurethane caulk. It can withstand the sun’s UV rays better and adjusts well between warm and cold weather. However, it doesn’t work well with wood.

On the other hand, polyurethane caulk is more affordable but has a shorter lifespan. The sun’s rays can wear this material much faster than silicone, but it’s more flexible and easier to apply. Polyurethane can also resist the effects of chemicals and corrosion, which makes it perfect if your commercial building acts as a factory of some sort.

How Long Does Caulk Last?

You shouldn’t apply caulking as a permanent fixture. When you apply them correctly, polyurethane caulk can last between five to ten years, while silicone lasts up to twenty. By the time their lifespans are up, they can no longer provide the protection and function that they’re meant to, which is why it’s important to stay up to date on your building’s caulking.

You can tell when the caulk in your building is degrading when it starts to flake and peel off the structure it’s supposed to seal. If you spot some staining or moulding, that’s another sure sign it’s time to hire caulking services again.

Conclusion

Caulking plays a crucial role in keeping your building safe from pest infestations and leaks. They can last for a long time, but you shouldn’t rely on them as a permanent solution. Once you notice that the caulking in your building is starting to degrade, contact a professional who can apply a new layer to keep your establishment safe and secure.

Quality Seal Australia provides the highest quality caulking and sealing services in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Contact us today for more information!